Machine for copying documents and the like



Feb. 16, 1932. A H, GLEDHlLL 1,845,872

MACHINE FOR COPYING DOCUMENTS AND THE LIKE Filed Oct. 7, 1929 2Sheets-Sheet 1 FIGJ.

A! L INVENTOR:

Feb. 16, 1932. A. H. GLEDHI'LL MACHINE FOR COPYING DOCUMENTS AND THELIKE 2 Sheet-Sheet '2 Filed Oct. '7, 1929 INVENTORE Patented Feb. 16,1932 ARTHUR HENRY GLEDHILL, OF HALIFAX, ENGLAND MACHINE FOR COPYINGDOCUMENTS AND THE LIKE Application filed October 7, 1928, Serial No.387,942, and in Great Britain December 29, 1928.

This invention relates to machines for producing copies of drawings,documents, and the like, and to that type of machine in which the paperon which the copy is to be made is placed in a travelling feed carriagewhich lays the paper on to a duplicating composition. This carriage isrovided with a platen feed roller adapted to be lifted out of contactwith a tension roller on the carriage to allow a sheet of paper to befed into the carriage until it comes to rest against a stationary stopon the machine.

In machines of this class it has been customary to hinge the carria e toa slide frame that slides along a guide ar at one side of the machineand to effect the adjustment of the platen roller in relation to theplaten by means of a set screw on the carriage which can be adjusted inrelation to an abutment on the slide frame to which that end of thecarriage is hinged. This construction calls for delicate adjustment togive correct pressure at both ends of the platen roller. The handle forpushing the carriage along the bed has been fived at or near the centreof the hinged frame or carriage which carries the platen roller and atsome distance away from the guide rod with the result that any forceapplied to the handle to move the carriage over the platen tends tostrain or distort the carriage and cause the slide frame to bind on theguide rod. Moreover owing to the handle being mounted on a hingedcarriage variation in force exerted upon the handle produces variationof pressure between the platen roller and the platen or duplicatingcomposition and these defects produce irregularities and often make itdifficult to lay thin sheets of paper on the duplieating compositionwithout producing crinkles.

According to this invention the hinged carriage is dispensed with andreplaced by one that is rigidly connected with the slide frame and thehandle for pushing the carriage along the platen is fixed to or near theslide frame and the free end of the carriage is supported by a ball orroller bearing adapted to run along a track formed on the side of themachine frame.

In order that the said invention may be clearly understood and readilycarried into effect the same is described more fully with reference tothe accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is side elevation and Fig. 2a plan of part of a copying machine constructed in accordance with thisinvention.

Figs. 3 and 4 are similar views to Figs. 1 and 2 with parts of themechanism removed and showing the handle and platen roller carrier inits inoperative or tilted positon.

Fig. 5 is an end elevation of the opposite end of the carriage frame,and

Fig. 6 is a section taken through the carriage frame and the latenroller carrier.

A indicates the carriage, B the slide frame, C the handle, and D theroller bearing. In the example shown the carriage A is formed with lugsa which are secured to lugs b on the slide frame B by screws a, theslide frame B being free to slide along a rod B in the usual manner. Thehandle C is pivotally mounted between lugs a in a portion of thecarriage in proximity to the slide rod B and it is formed with a toothor catch 0 adapted to interlock with a catch 0 on a tumbler lever c thatis pivoted between the aforesaid lugs The end of the tumbler leveropposite to the catch 0 is heavier than the latter and normallymaintains the catch 0 in a position to engage the tooth or catch 0 tolock the platen roller carrier E in its operative or rolling position.When the carriage arrives at its starting position the catch 0 isautomatically disengaged from the catch 0 by the weighted end a ridingup an incline or cam surface 0 on the machine frame F to enable theplaten roller E to be raised to feed a sheet of paper between the platenroller 6 and the platen presser roller 6 The handle C is connected withthe platen roller carrier E by means of a link G having a slot 9 for thepassage of a in 9 carried in brackets g fixed on the p aten rollercarrier E, the said pin and slot connection allowing the platen roller 6to accommodate itself to varying surfaces such as variation in thethickness of the reproducing medium. The main carriage A is supported atits free end by a ball or other roller bearing D Fig. 5 having justedposition by tightening the clamping screw d. The roller bearing D runsalong a track f on a part of the framework 13. The weight of thecarriageMA is supported by this roller bearing instead of by theplatenroller e and the pressure that the latter exerts upon the platenH, or the sheet of paper thereon is controlled solely by the springs 0Fig. 6 which cause the presser roller 6 to exert a downward thrust uponthe platen roller 6. This pressure cannot be varied by the operatorpressing lightly or heavily on the carriage operating handle as when thelatter is in its locked position it is entirely independent of theplaten roller carrier and as such handle is practically in line with theguide rod B it imparts a direct thrust upon the carriage A andeliminates distortion of the latter. By the invention described the verythinnest sheets of paper can be laiddown with the utmost precision andwithout any adjustments being made to the carriage, and owing to theoperating handle occupying a position at one side'of the machine it ismore out of the way and convenient for the operator.

Vhat I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent inthe United States is 1. In a multiple copying machine-the combination ofa travelling feed carriage, a slide frame made rigid with such carriage,a stationaryguide at one side of the machine on which the slide framecan travel, a track at the other side of the machine and a rotarybearing on the carriage adapted to run-on top of the track and supportthe free end of the carriage, and a platen roller having a looseconnection with the carriage to retain said roller in floating contactwith the work.

2. In a multiple copying machine the combination-of a travelling feedcarriage, a slide frame made rigid with such carriage, a platen rollerhaving a loose connection with the carriage to retain said roller infloating contact with the work, a stationary guide at one side of themachine on which the slide frame can travel, a handle fixed to thecarriage in proximity to the slide frame, a track at the other side ofthe machine and a rotary bearingon the carriage adapted to run ontop ofthe track and support the free end of the carriage.

3. Ina multiple copying machine the combination ofa travelling feedcarriage, a. slide frame made rigid with such carriage, a'stationaryguide at one side of the machine on which the slide frame can travel, atrack at the other side of the machine and a rotary bearing on thecarriage that always runs on the track and supports the free end of thecarriage, a platen roller carrier frame pivotally mounted in thecarriage, a spring actuated presser roller which alone exerts adownwardpressure on the platen roller and keeps the latter in Contactwith the work, arms pivoted tothe'carriage for supporting the presserroller, a handle pivoted to the carriage in proximity to the slide frameand formed with a tooth or catch, a tumbler lever pivoted to thecarriage and formed with a tooth or catch to interlock with the catch onthe handle, a link connecting the handle with the platen roller carrierframe througha lost motion connection whereby the handle when in itslocked position is entirely independent of the platen roller carrier,and means for automatically disengaging the tooth: or catch on thetumbler lever from the tooth orcatch on the handlewhenthe travellingfeed carriage is returnedto the frontgof the machine, a track at theother side of the machine, a rotary bearing on the carriage adapted torun on the top of the track and support the free. end of the carriage,and means forraising-and lowering the free end of the carriage byadjusting the. position of the rotary bearing.

In a multiple copying machine the combination of. a travelling. feedcarriage, a slide frame made rigid with such carriage, a sta tionaryguide onwhich the slide frame can travel, a platen roller carrier framepivotally mounted in the carriage, a presser-roller adapted. to exert. adownward-pressure on the platen roller, arms pivoted to the carriage forsupporting the presser roller, a handle pivoted to the carriage inproximityto the slide frame and formed with a tooth or catch, a tumblerlever pivoted to -the carriage. and

formed with a tooth or catch to interlock withthecatch on thehandle, alink connecting the handle with the platen roller carrier frame througha pin. and slot connection, means for automatically disengaging thetOOtllaOIi catch on the tumbler lever from the tOOtllEOI catchon thehandle when the travelling feed carriage is returned to its startingposition, a rotary bearing for supporting the carriage at its free endand means foradjusting the position of. such bearing to adjust theheightofthe-carriagein relation'to the platen.

In testimony whereof I hereunto'afiix my signature.

ARTHUR HENRY GLEDHI-LL.

